PT municipal buildings upgrading phone system

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All municipal buildings in Peters Township will soon have a new telephone system, replacing the current system that has been in use since 1988. During a council meeting March 25, council members unanimously awarded a bid to Premier Com for $55,090 that includes installation and maintenance for five years. Premier Com was the lowest of six bids received. Another bidder was rejected for not having a bid bond and for not using the official bid form.

The 2013 budget includes $66,000 for the project. No time frame was listed for installation, however the equipment must be shipped to the installer by March 31.

In other action March 25 council:

• Pre-qualified nine companies as HVAC contractors. In the township, contractors must be pre-qualified before being permitted to work on township property. Fourteen firms had applied to be considered.

• The Whispering Pines development was approved to include eight new lots in Phase 1. That will bring the first phase to 26 lots.

• An attempt to impose term limits for members of township boards failed by a vote of 2 to 4 with members Monica Merrell and Gary Stiegel Jr. voting for, and Robert Atkison, Robert Lewis, Frank Arcuri and David Ball voting against. Council member James Berquist was absent.

• Authorized a banner on the Bebout Road trail bridge requested by the high school Interact Club for April 14-27 to advertise an autism walk.

• Announced the annual joint meeting between council and the Peters Township School Board will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 16, in the library.

• Announced an agreement between the township and Waste Management for failed collections in the amount of $3,500. Michael Silvestri, township manager, said each affected household will be credited $2.

• Discussed the future impact on traffic when the Southern Beltway is constructed from Route 22 to Interstate 79 in Cecil Township. Silvestri said work on the project is expected to begin on the western end this year and take nine years to complete.